The Albanian criminal organization in Spain is destroyed/ 17 arrested

2024-02-17 22:03:00, Kronika CNA

Spanish police said on Saturday that they destroyed one of the most active criminal organizations, which was run by Albanian nationals and according to investigations was carrying out international cocaine trafficking in eastern Spain.

According to the official police communiqué, anti-drug agents have arrested 17 people in the province of Valencia and more than 820 kilograms of cocaine have been seized in various operations.

The Spanish police say that among those arrested is the leader of the group, known to the agents for his contacts in Latin America, Europe and Dubai.

During the police checks, among other things, around 226 thousand euros, three devices for the detection of electronic GPS devices and 13 vehicles were seized.

Operation "Joint Alliance" has been developed for almost months, divided into three phases. Initially, the Spanish police say, the leader of the organization was identified, who ran several companies in Spain.

In July last year, investigators discovered two vehicles belonging to the organization in the town of L'Eliana, Valencia province, where officers found a total of 100 packages of cocaine.

The agents arrested the two drivers who acted as "couriers" to make trips and deliver the narcotics to other drug trafficking groups.

The second phase took place in September last year, when another vehicle belonging to the criminal group was caught after it sped away and hit police officers and was located a few kilometers away where it was abandoned with 50 kilograms of cocaine inside.

The third phase took place during the month of January, in the city of Benicassim. Agents discovered a van and a vehicle belonging to the criminal organization. After the intervention, the driver of the van tried to run away but was caught by the police officers. Inside the van, 320 kilograms of cocaine were found hidden in a cardboard box.

At the end of the operation, the Spanish police say that eight checks were carried out in the apartments and places used by members of the network, evidencing the seizure in one of the apartments of 350 kilograms of narcotics as well as more than 200 thousand euros.

The Spanish courts have ordered the measure of "prison detention" for all those arrested.

According to EUROPOL police investigations and reports from European law enforcement agencies, Albanian networks have recently become active transporting large quantities of cocaine from Latin America, mainly Ecuador to Europe./ VOA